The Astros are rolling out a shuffled lineup Thursday night as they try to win the rubber game against the Angels at Daikin Park, with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m.
Houston’s order starts with Lamonte Wade Jr. in the leadoff spot, followed by Yordan Alvarez, Isaac Paredes, Jose Altuve, Daulton Varsho, Taylor Trammell, Cam Smith, Nick Allen and Christian Vazquez.
The biggest change comes at the top. Jeremy Pena is out after leaving the last game with a hand injury.
He was hit on the hand during an at-bat, stayed in to play the field, then was removed once his turn came up because of a hand contusion. Wade is batting first for the first time since joining the Astros, and he has not hit higher than fourth in a Houston lineup.
His ability to draw walks has helped keep him in the mix, with 16 walks in 84 at-bats.
Alvarez stays in his familiar second spot after being named the July American League Player of the Month, though his bat has cooled in August. He enters the game with a .796 OPS this month, a .271 average, one home run and six RBI in 16 games.
Paredes has been one of Houston’s steadiest bats lately, reaching base safely at least twice in four of his last five games. Over that stretch, he owns a 1.112 OPS.
Altuve follows in the cleanup spot and comes in on a five-game hitting streak, going 7-for-19 with a .955 OPS. He’s hitting .340 in August with an .882 OPS.
Varsho is back in the lineup after not starting Wednesday. He had started every game since the trade from Toronto to Houston, but he’s still searching for traction at the plate, hitting .125 with one extra-base hit in 48 at-bats. His batting average on balls in play with Houston sits at .143.
Trammell gets the nod in left field and has hit a rough patch, going 0-for-15. His only time on base during that stretch was wiped out by a caught stealing.
Smith bats seventh after posting a 1.020 OPS this month and homering in game one of the series for Houston’s only Monday run. Allen slides in at shortstop and hits eighth with Pena sidelined, while Vazquez closes things out after homering Wednesday.
On the mound, Peter Lambert gets the ball for Houston. He has been the club’s most dependable starter, leading Astros pitchers with a 3.5 bWAR and pacing all starters with a 3.11 ERA.
Lambert is 8-6 in 21 starts, and Houston is 13-8 when he starts. He’s worked at least five innings in each of his last nine outings and has been especially sharp since July began, putting up a 2.44 ERA with a 2.75 FIP.
The Angels counter with Grayson Rodriguez, who brings a 7.17 ERA and a 3-5 record into his 14th start. Rodriguez was much better in 2024 with Baltimore, going 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA, but he missed all of 2025 because of an injury.
He was traded in the offseason for Taylor Ward, and Los Angeles is letting him work through a tough 2026 season. Houston will also be without Christian Walker in the starting lineup Thursday.
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